Why You Can't Miss the 2025 Conference: Insights from the 2023 ICAR-CGIAR GENDER Conference and why you should join us in Cape Town

Following the tradition of the biennial CGIAR GENDER Impact Platform conferences, the international conference will bring together researchers, policymakers, practitioners, private sector actors, local and indigenous communities and others, who work toward transforming food systems. Join us in Cape Town, South Africa, 7-9 October to showcase your research and connect, learn and share with others. 

The 2025 Gender Conference aims to accelerate gender equality and social inclusion in food, land, and water systems by identifying evidence-based solutions, fostering collaboration among global stakeholders, and driving policy and innovation that empower women, youth, and socially excluded groups for a more sustainable and resilient future. 

We welcome both individual contributions and full session proposals that aim to generate and stimulate meaningful discussions on how to achieve greater equality in food, land, and water systems.  

We especially encourage submissions that offer  

• diverse perspectives,  

• challenge existing assumptions,  

• help identify effective and promising solutions  

We invite contributions that push boundaries of gender research using a wide range of methodological approaches that help identify what works to close gender gaps and advance equality in agri-food systems, including 

• qualitative studies,  

• mixed methods,  

• analytical research 

• studies using causal inference methodologies, quantitative and qualitative 

We invite submissions for 90-minute full sessions (capacity development, panel or scientific) or individual contributions in the form of a 15-20 minute oral presentation, or a poster and display. Please note that we will host a dedicated panel session for poster presentations. This format is designed to ensure that every participant has the opportunity to be heard and receive constructive feedback.  

Presentations and sessions will align and contribute to the overall conference aims and will show studies and generate discussion across the conference themes 

• Shifting gender and social norms to enhance access, participation, and resilience for women, youth, and socially excluded groups in agri-food systems  

• Advancing women's empowerment in agri-food systems through scalable solutions 

• Effective strategies and innovations for enhancing resilience and livelihoods in Food, Land and Water Systems 

• Strategies to strengthen the leadership, voice, and influence of women, youth, Indigenous People, and socially excluded groups in Food, Land, and Water Systems 

• Making agri-food systems more inclusive and empowering for youth   

The upcoming 2025 conference promises to build upon the momentum of the 2023 gathering, offering attendees invaluable insights and opportunities to drive positive change in agri-food systems, gender equality and inclusion. Here's why you should be part of this exciting event:  

1. Addressing pressing global challenges and driving systemic change 

The 2025 conference will foster the dialogue around the urgency of tackling issues like climate change, and conflict, which have impeded progress toward equality in agri-food systems. Dialogues will focus on actionable solutions to these pressing challenges and how evidence can be translated in actionable recommendations for policy makers, Attending the 2025 conference will equip you with evidence-based recommendations and strategies to influence policy and contribute to systemic transformations in agri-food systems. 

2. Advancing gender equality and women's empowerment 

The research and evidence generated have significantly advanced the understanding of women's roles and status in agri-food systems. The 2025 Conference will not only provide an opportunity to deepen this understanding, but also to identify effective solutions to close gender gaps and overcome the barriers women face. 

3. Bridging research and practice 

The 2023 event successfully brought together researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to bridge the gap between research and practice. Join the 2025 conference to engage with researchers, policymakers, donors, and civil society in dynamic discussions on the solutions needed to advance equality—how to identify them, how to test them, and how to apply the evidence generated 

4. Networking with global experts 

The conference aims to bring together leaders from academia, government, NGOs, and the private sector across the globe, allowing you to connect with experts, share experiences, and collaborate on initiatives that drive change towards a collective vision for just and resilient agri-food systems. 

Want to find out more and have the opportunity to ask the chair of the Scientific Committee and Senior Scientist at the Gender Accelerator, Diana Lopez-Avila, and Marlène Elias, Gender Lead at Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), your questions regarding submissions and scope of the conference. Join our LinkedIn Live on Tuesday 15th April, 3:00pm – 3:30pm EAT. 

Don't miss the opportunity to be part of a global movement towards equitable and sustainable agri-food systems. Join us at the 2025 conference to continue the journey of learning, collaboration, and impactful action. 

📅 Submission deadline: April 25 

🔗 Learn more and SUBMIT NOW